Highlights. Situation Overview 265,000. $55.8m. 2.1m+ The Caribbean: Hurricane Season Situation Report No. 7 (as of 18 September 2017)

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1 The Caribbean: Hurricane Season Situation Report No. 7 (as of 18 September 2017) This report is produced by OCHA ROLAC in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the first period from 06 to 18 September, The next report will be issued on or around 20 September Highlights Humanitarian actors have been forced to shift gears from response to Irma to prepare for potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane, Maria. Heavy rainfall could cause flash floods and mudslides in islands recovering from Irma s onslaught such as Sint Maarten, Barbuda and Anguilla. Evacuation centres are being prepared. More than 2.1 million people in Cuba have been targeted by a US$ 55.8 million Plan of Action to provide assistance to the most affected by Irma. Two high-level events related to Hurricane Irma were held during the UN General Assembly in New York 18 September. Damage in Havana from Hurricane Irma / PHOTO: Granma $27m required for most affected by Irma Source: RRP 265,000 estimated to have been affected by Irma in the Caribbean. $55.8m required to support Cuba s post- Irma recovery efforts 2.1m+ Cubans targeted by Plan of Action Source: RRP Situation Overview As the humanitarian situation improves in some of the islands recovering from the ferocious impact of Hurricane Irma, aid workers in severely impacted islands such as Sint Maarten have had to shift gears to prepare for category 5 Hurricane Maria. Maria is the sixth hurricane to have formed in the Atlantic Basin this season (from 1 June) which ends in November, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Twenty provinces in the Dominican Republic are under a storm warning. Rainfall on many of the islands on Maria s path could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. The UN Disaster Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) is supporting Sint Maarten in its preparedness efforts to face Maria. Evacuation centres and shelters are being prepared for Maria. In the Dominican Republic, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has convened in advance of Hurricane Maria and has already placed 20 provinces on alert for hurricane conditions. Authorities are evaluating priority evacuation zones. Maria is also being monitored by Cuba, where more than 2.1 million people - the most vulnerable among those severely affected by Irma in Cuba, will be targeted by a Plan of Action by the UN System to support Cuba s recovery efforts. + For more information, see background on the crisis at the end of the report The mission of the is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives

2 Regional Situation Report No. 7 2 Cuba had faced the brunt of Irma where the hurricane made landfall as a category 5 hurricane, with more than 5.6 million people directly affected. The US$55.8 million Plan of Action launched on 18 September will target the most vulnerable - more 2.1 million people - in 33 municipalities seriously impaired by Hurricane Irma to cover their immediate basic needs over the next six months. Restoration of water and power supplies remains a critical requirement in many of the affected islands such as Sint Maarten and Turks and Caicos. The islands of Antigua and Barbuda and Anguilla require generators, water cases, water bowser containers, purifiers and water treatment tablets as the population struggles with shortages of potable water. The situation in the British Virgin Islands has improved with the restoration of power and opening of local markets. Ferries are operational again and the airport was expected to be opened for commercial flights on 18 September. More than 90 per cent of buildings on Sint Maarten and 75 per cent of standing structures in Barbuda were destroyed by Irma, according to a preliminary building damage assessment overview map by the Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) of the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). UNOSAT will release its comprehensive building damage assessment across the Caribbean in the wake of Irma this week. In an effort to allow for a better flow of the relief supply pipeline, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has urged donating organisations and individuals to organize relief supplies in categories. It has also urged donors to consult with the list of needs identified by the islands on CDEMA s website. A high-level event on Hurricane Irma was held at the UN General Assembly in New York, where the UN Secretary- General António Guterres urged efforts to boost resilience and strengthen damage mitigation measures. UN agencies have been assisting with response and recovery efforts since the storm struck and last week, the Organization launched a $15.1 million regional humanitarian response plan, covering the urgent needs of the most vulnerable populations impacted. The plan aims to reach an estimated 265,000 affected people until the end of this year. In another high-level event in New York on 18 September, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, allocated US$10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to enable humanitarians to help tens of thousands of people in need of assistance following the devastating category 5 storm, Hurricane Irma. Funding On 18 September, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, allocated US$10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to enable humanitarians to help tens of thousands of people in need of assistance following the devastating category 5 storm, Hurricane Irma. The funds will enable the United Nations and other organizations to support the national and regional response immediately to provide food, critical health care, clean water and other urgently needed aid to the people most affected by Irma, in particular women and girls. On the same day, a Plan for Action $55.8 million for the people of Cuba was launched to support the immediate needs of more than 2.1 million. The affected people s most urgent needs are in five priority sectors: shelter and early recovery; food security, water, sanitation and hygiene; health; and education. The largest number of people require support with health services (2,151,080) as around 70 per cent of hospital and polyclinics in the affected areas have been damaged.

3 Regional Situation Report No. 7 3 Cuba Plan of Action 2017: Requirements by Sector More than 2 million people s access to water has been most impacted. These people live in the seven out of the 13 Cuban provinces most affected by Irma. At least 664,000 of the most vulnerable people (children under 5, pregnant and lactating women and elderly people) need urgent food assistance. More than 75,000 hectares of agricultural land, pig farming, poultry and aquaculture facilities have been destroyed. The Plan of Action is asking for $14.7 million to address food needs and restore agricultural and fishery production and livelihoods of 930,000 people. On 14 September, OCHA launched the Regional Response Plan to support people most affected by Irma in the Caribbean. The three-month plan required $15.1 million to address the most urgent needs of 265,000 most affected people until December 2017, and $11.9 million for complex logistics and communications assistance.

4 For additional guidance on the RRP, contact Amaia Lopez at OCHA ROLAC Regional Situation Report No. 7 4 Donations via the OCHA website have been activated by the Resource and Communications Section (RMCS) of the CERF at The Regional Response Plan can be found at: All humanitarian partners, including donors and recipient agencies, are encouraged to inform OCHA's Financial Tracking Service (FTS - of cash and in-kind contributions by ing: fts@un.org Humanitarian Response CDEMA launched an online donation facility today (September 15, 2017). Persons can make online donations (using credit cards) to the Hurricane Irma Relief campaign (visit The CARICOM Disaster Response Unit (CDRU) Team continues to facilitate the distribution of relief supplies in the British Virgin Islands, while the CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST) is supporting the National Emergency Centres in the British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos. The Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT) is also providing support in the British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos. Several international institutions, such as Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) all continue to provide support to affected CDEMA states via supplies, personnel and funding. In Cuba, national authorities have been responding to the aftermath of Irma. The Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) has approved a regional contribution for 2 million euros, which will include support for Cuba. Several countries are standing by and have expressed their willingness and to provide aid, including Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the Czech Republic, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam.

5 Regional Situation Report No. 7 5 Camp Coordination and Camp Management Antigua and Barbuda: The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has been activated in Antigua, site visits started on 15 September together with UNICEF and the ministry of social transformation. Three sites hosting evacuees from Barbuda were visited for profiling. Site profiles are available on Most basic needs seem to be covered, areas with higher gaps are health, education, counseling and information about returns. Sint Maarten: Evacuation centers are being prepared in the face of incoming Hurricane Maria. The centers have a capacity for 2,140 people. There are eight pre-stocked sites with capacity for 1,800 people. It is not clear how many could need to take shelter. Response Antigua and Barbuda: DTM will continue visits to sites and compiling available information. Sint Maarten: A CCCM expert is in St. Maarten conducting crash course training with authorities and camp managers. Evacuation center strategy drafted and identification started, responsibilities drafted out. Given that Sint Maarten has a large population of irregular migrants (mostly Dominicans and some Haitian), the Red Cross and IOM are discussing how assistance should be tailored to their needs, for instance in case cash based initiatives are implemented. Contact person at OIM in Panama: Luz Tantaruna (ltantaruna@iom.int)

6 Regional Situation Report No. 7 6 Early Recovery According to UNITAR/UNOSAT, this is the assessed damage in each Irma-affected English and Dutch Caribbean countries. Damage ranges from less than one per cent of buildings damaged in Antigua to 75 percent of buildings damaged in Barbuda and 92 per cent in St Martin. Country /Territory Total Number of Footprints Country / Island / Territory (Analyzed Area) Percentage of Damaged Buildings (%) Antigua 41,474 < 1% Anguilla 7,038 31% Bahamas 1,771 29% Barbuda 1,434 75% British Virgin Islands Turks and Caicos Islands 9,702 22% 11,113 14% Saint Barthelemy 5,721 33% Saint Martin 15,895 28% Sint Maarten 12,386 92% Antigua and Barbuda: The Government has requested technical support from UNDP in the debris management process. Cuba: According to UNDP, the Hurricane affected some 64,000 homes, some partially and totally collapsed and some with partial or total loss of roofs. More than 190,000 people were affected. Prior to Hurricane Irma, the country s housing exhibited problems, with more than a million homes in a deficient or poor state. Of these homes, 43 per cent are in Havana. The country has recovered 70 per cent of its power service. Hurricane Irma affected 2,300 primary power distribution circuits throughout Cuba, of which 644 are still pending repairs. UNDP is deploying a recovery advisor to Barbados to support the implementation of UNDP Crisis response and the recovery process in the affected areas in Antigua and Barbuda and the British Virgin Islands. This deployment will be for four to six weeks. The recovery advisor will provide thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the immediate response context, as well as identify strategic programmatic opportunities for the UNDP s Recovery Programme. Cuba: The Plan of Action will support the rapid supply of non-food humanitarian items (mattresses, sheets, mosquito nets, kitchen kits) to the affected population, prioritizing vulnerable groups. Support for safe roof recovery, access to basic building materials for immediate response and early recovery and access to employment opportunities by recovering local production capacities are also contemplated by the Plan of Action. Contact person at UNDP in New York: Ugo Blanco (ugo.blanco@undp.org)

7 Regional Situation Report No. 7 7 Education UNICEF reports that thousands of children are having their education disrupted, as schools across Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Barbuda are damaged. This also raises child protection concerns. The damage to school infrastructure greatly jeopardizes access to education for affected children. UNICEF has five staff members deployed to Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands to undertake assessments particularly focusing on child protection and education sector management, water and sanitation, shelter management, communication for development needs and planning for psychosocial support of children start-up. UNICEF is planning a long-term deployment to the British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos after Hurricane Maria passes over to address education issues. Antigua and Barbuda: UNICEF is providing support in identifying gaps in analyzing education needs and is working to integrate children evacuated from Barbuda into Antigua s education system. Cuba: UNICEF has reviewed the first draft of the CERF for Cuba and updated the references for education supplies. UNICEF plans to work with UNESCO and WHO on Return to Happiness programmes. UNICEF is targeting 226,000 children for assistance in its response plan by providing materials, education kits, early care kits and recreation kits, as well as roofing and WASH support for schools. UNICEF s response will also provide psychosocial support. The Plan of Action seeks to address the immediate establishment of temporary safe and protective learning spaces and provision of essential instructional and recreational materials that enable the safe return to school. Priorities include the reconstruction of roofs, windows and water and sanitation supplies in educational spaces in affected municipalities, as well as the socio-emotional support to enable emotional recovery. Contact person at UNICEF in Panama: Douglas Reimer (dreimer@unicef.org) Food Security Cuba: According to the Plan of Action, 75,000 hectares of agricultural land was damaged. About 664,000 people WFP launched an Emergency Operation focused on the Eastern Caribbean valued at US$1.5 million for the provision of 30 mt of high-energy biscuits (HEBs) to support 25,000 people and cash-based transfers (CBT) to support 20,000 people - as required based on consultations with local authorities. WFP is also working with Samaritan's Purse to distribute goods throughout the Eastern Caribbean. FAO is in contact with the Ministries of Agriculture of affected countries in order to determine whether there are any specific requests. Cuba: WFP has a contingency food stock of 1,600 mt, pre-positioned in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba to cover the food needs of at least 275,000 people for one month. WFP is working towards a longer term response that is targeting assistance to 660,000 people for four months. The Cuba Plan of Action seeks to improve availability and access to food for people affected by the hurricane, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable, as a complement to the assistance provided by the government. The Plan of Action will also support the restoration of food production and agricultural livelihoods. Contact person at FAO in Panama: Marco Minelli (Marco.Minelli@fao.org) and at WFP in Panama: Regis Chapman (Regis Chapman@wfp.org)

8 Regional Situation Report No. 7 8 Health PAHO has reported logistics challenges including restoration of the distribution chain and improvement of wellconditioned storage areas. In particular, PAHO notes the logistical difficulties in moving their supplies out of Barbados to affected islands, specifically the British Virgin Islands, and are exploring options for transporting cargo. PAHO has reported that maintaining sanitary conditions, especially in shelters, continues to be a priority. Security issues are complicating humanitarian response including logistical issues for the islands to receive and distribute basic supplies Heightened epidemiological surveillance to support early detection and timely management of disease outbreaks will be important in the coming days due to lack of access to clean water, healthcare and treatment, and increase in vectors and rodents. Some shelters are already reporting diarrheal and skin diseases. Vectorborne-diseases should be prevented by quickly cleaning debris that may create breeding sites when it rains. Environmental Health should also be addressed in these islands as clearing and recovery continues. UNICEF estimates that 15,000 children and adolescents in the affected islands of the Eastern Caribbean are in need of psycho-social support and protective environment. Cuba: Seventy-three per cent of hospitals and polyclinics in 27 municipalities have been damaged The most damages reported are from Policlinico Marcio Manduley, Hospital América Arias and Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras Surgical Hospital. Two hospitals were completely evacuated in Havana, which may have an impact on medical supplies of hospitals that accepted overflow of these patients. Major hospitals in Havana are expected to be up and running by next week. Immediate needs for essential medicines, sanitation, and vector control has been identified. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is providing technical assistance in assessing vector control in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as working with CDEMA and PAHO to coordinate vector control response throughout the affected islands. PAHO remains active in assisting authorities throughout the Eastern Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin and Sint Maarten) with coordinating emergency projects to cover medical supplies, reestablish health services, and purchase of essential medicines and medical equipment. Antigua and Barbuda: PAHO has identified five health centers to serve the population that was evacuated from Barbuda. Cuba: PAHO has deployed a specialist to assist authorities with assessments and vector control, as well as the health of displaced people. PAHO is looking to ship six emergency health kits to assist 10,000 people each - for a total of 60,000 people - for the next three months. Contact person at PAHO/WHO in Washington: Ciro Ugarte (ugarteci@paho.org) and contact for PAHO EOC: eoc@paho.org and EMT: emt@paho.org Protection British Virgin Islands: Psychosocial support needs are starting to arise in British Virgin Islands for and other affected islands in the Caribbean. UN Women deployed a gender and humanitarian specialist on 13 September who is working with the UN team and the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) to dignity needs and will also participate in the rapid assessment at the household level. Turks and Caicos: According to the governor of Turks and Caicos Islands, a total of 6,570 people are vulnerable and require protection support. There are also an estimated 20,000 undocumented and stranded migrants who are vulnerable to discrimination in aid delivery. Sint Maarten: UNICEF is prioritizing the protection of for the most vulnerable children and adolescents amidst a critical security situation on the island. UN Women is deploying a gender and humanitarian specialist in the week of 18 September to work with the UN team on the ground.

9 Regional Situation Report No. 7 9 UNICEF is addressing protection and education together in the affected islands in the Eastern Caribbean, implementing the Return to Happiness programme. Trainings for the programme had already taken place prior to Hurricane Irma. Antigua and Barbuda: UN Women deployed a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) specialist to Antigua. UN Women is also working with the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross to distribute hygiene kits and address sexual education. British Virgin Islands: UN Women has deployed a gender specialist to conduct assessments in Tortola. British Virgin Islands: UNICEF has deployed a gender specialist carrying out assessments. Contact person at UN Women in Panama: Alma Perez (alma.perez@unwomen.org) and at UNFPA in Panama: Jayne Adams (adams@unfpa.org) Shelter UNICEF reports that there is presently no detailed time-frame for the return of the evacuated people from the island of Barbuda that have been evacuated to Antigua. Most of the people are staying with family or friends, while an estimated 300 people are staying in shelters. Antigua and Barbuda: IOM staff visited the Barrymore Hotel where 47 IDPs are temporarily accommodated. The hotel was initially closed. IOM also visited Codrington, Barbuda with a Disaster Risk Management authorities, aiming at conducting a needs assessment on the island and identifying possible locations to erect shelters. Two locations have been identified: 1) a school play field with several structures they are still erected but require repairs to roofs, windows and doors; and 2) a sports tarmac field with facing concrete. UN Women is working in close partnership with the Ministry of Social Transformation to conduct training for shelter manages with IOM, distributing additional dignity kits at the shelters in partnership with UNFPA, and conducting focus groups with the displaced Barbudan women and men. Sint Maarten: About 90 per cent of all the houses on St. Maarten suffered some kind of damage. Cuba: Initial assessments suggest that up to 90 per cent of houses are destroyed in the worst affected areas. Businesses, schools, public buildings and essential services have been destroyed as well. In view of the large scale of destruction in some affected areas, the rehabilitation of damaged houses and emergency shelter structures is a priority, as is the distribution of essential Non-Food Items. Cuba: IOM within the shelter and early recovery sector will contribute in the response to supporting people in evacuation centers with NFI and materials to repair the roofs of houses. IOM has made available 100,000 USD of own funding to support Cuba. Antigua and Barbuda: The Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross completed registering people staying in shelters in Antigua on 15 September. Sint Maarten: In Sint Maarten, IOM is liaising with UNDAC and the Netherlands Red Cross on temporary shelter design to define the best layout using materials available and avoid the creation of collective sites unless no alternative exists. Contact person at IFRC Regional Office for the Americas in Panama: Inigo Barrena (ci.barrena@ifrc.org)

10 Regional Situation Report No Water, Sanitation and Hygiene UNICEF estimates that in the affected islands in the Eastern Caribbean, 19,200 children of which 5,500 aged under five are deprived of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and safety. Anguilla: UNICEF has identified the following supply needs in Anguilla: 10,000 water cases, 200 tarpaulins, 200 water containers, 500 cleaning kits, 10,000 units of mosquito repellent, 5,000 hygiene kits, Cuba: UNICEF has identified WASH as a priority area - water supplies are gradually beginning to be restored throughout the country. UNICEF assessments are ongoing in the Eastern Caribbean. Cuba: UNICEF will be providing chlorine tablets, jerry cans, hygiene kits and hygiene messaging. Supplies of 55,440 water purification tablets have arrived. UNICEF will also support water distribution and disinfection efforts. PAHO will support WASH efforts by monitoring the water quality. The Plan of Action will address the prevention of morbidity and mortality caused by unsafe drinking water and sanitation deficiencies, diarrheal diseases, water and vector borne diseases in addition to strengthening and adjusting the existing hygiene promotion programs in the context of the emergency Contact person at UNICEF in Panama: Douglas Reimer (dreimer@unicef.org) Logistics Cuba: Strong winds and sea penetration affected roads and the warehouse infrastructure of the most affected provinces of Cuba. Sint Maarten: WFP staff deployed in Sint Maarten are reporting that markets, banks and fuel stations are closed and food stocks are depleting quickly. There are growing concerns about the continued closure of ports. The WFP has placed specialists in Antigua, Sint Maarten, Saint Martin and Turks and Caicos, as well as a team in Santo Domingo and staff for booking and tracking in Barbados. WFP has a helicopter stationed in Santo Domingo for Turks and Caicos and a Cessna in Antigua for transport to the British Virgin Islands. The WFP anticipates procuring additional transport through civilian-military coordination in St Maarten. Through its regional sub-office, WFP is transporting crucial non-food items, including mobile storage units, tarpaulins, prefabs, generators and other logistics and telecommunications support equipment. Meanwhile, WFP is putting together special teams to assist with damage and needs assessment, the management of food assistance and provision of supply chain support to Turks and Caicos Islands. The UNICEF focus on Turks and Caicos Islands was agreed with the CDEMA coordinated response, also taking into consideration efforts of the UK Government and planned provision of similar supplies to Anguilla and British Virgin Islands. The northern liaison unit of two UNICEF East Caribbean Area Office (ECA) staff has been established in Antigua to liaise with the CDEMA hub for deployment and supply receipt and distribution to all affected northern islands focusing on Anguilla, Barbuda and British Virgin Islands. Cuba: In coordination with the Government of Cuba, WFP is relocating five mobile storage units (MSUs) to support local authorities. WFP is also shipping non-food items (NFI) from Panama and Copenhagen, 10 MSUs to Puerto Mariel and transporting dignity kits from UNFPA. Contact person at UNHRD in Panama: Francisco Garrido (francisco.garrido@wfp.org) and contact person for Telecommunications at WFP: Gabriela Alvarado (gabriela.alvarado@wfp.org)

11 Regional Situation Report No Emergency Telecommunications Response WFP emergency telecommunications teams have been deployed to ensure that hubs are fully operational, as well as to support the increase of connectivity and bandwidth requirements and will provide Emergency Telecommunication services to the humanitarian community. ICT facilities and infrastructure will allow humanitarian workers to better coordinate assessments, rescue and relief operations. For more information on Logistics Cluster response to Hurricane Irma, visit the following page: General Coordination OCHA continues to work in coordination with CDEMA from their main offices in Barbados, as well as in the field together with UN Agencies and partners. An UNDAC team, along with personnel from Map Action, remains in Barbados to continue supporting regional operations. Two UNDAC members remain in Antigua. The Anguilla UNDAC team and the British Virgin Islands UNDAC team have concluded their missions. The Sint Maarten UNDAC team remains on the ground working with local authorities. The Turks and Caicos UNDAC team are still working in on the ground as well, providing support to local authorities in matters of general coordination. OCHA continues to work with CDEMA and partners to in compiling information from assessments that are coming in. Satellite imagery of assessed damage is available at OCHA has shared an assessment tool that can be shared with any responder that looks at hurricane impact, displacement, response and needs: Humanitarian Contact List for Hurricane Irma is available on Humanitarian ID: Deploying teams are encouraged to register at Background on the crisis Hurricane Irma became a category 5 on Tuesday 5 September as it headed toward the Caribbean islands. Irma made landfall on northeast Caribbean islands during the early hours of 6 September, affecting Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten, St. Martin, the Virgin Islands and other islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Since then, thousands of people have been evacuated from atrisk areas and different level of impact reported from the affected areas. Hurricane Maria is fast approaching several of the already affected islands with the potential to cause even more damage. For further information, please contact: Wendy Cue, Head of OCHA Regional Office, cue@un.org Tel: (+507) Cel: (+507) To find updated information online please visit: and To provide inputs to this report, please send information to: hurricaneirma@undac.org and ocha-rolac@un.org To be added or deleted from this Sit Rep mailing list, please ocha-rolac@un.org